Dead Children - Who Is Counting?

Eighteen children were killed, died from drugs or by suicide while in state care over the past ten years, the Health Service Executive (HSE) said last night.

Children's rights and protection groups said the records, released after weeks of severe criticism, were shocking but only gave half the story.

Alan Shatter, Fine Gael TD, accused the HSE of failing to tell the truth.

"The HSE has in its statement utterly failed to truthfully explain why as recently as March 2010 the Minister for Children (Barry Andrews) was informed that the number of child deaths in care was 23 and how it is that nine weeks later the number has grown to 37," he said.

"Today's revelation is not only an indictment of the incompetence and failure of the HSE, but also an indictment of the utter failure of Government to ensure the proper monitoring and governance of our childcare and protection services."

The official figures from the HSE said:

:: Five children died by suicide;

:: Five were drug related;

:: Two were unlawful killings;

:: Three died in road traffic accidents;

:: Three died in other accidents.

It is understood Daniel McAnaspie's death is not included on the list as a Coroner has not ruled on time of death.

He went missing on February 26 but his body was not recovered until earlier this month when a farmer found his remains in a ditch in Co Meath.

The HSE said another 19 children died from natural causes and ill health problems such as brain tumour, leukaemia, surgical complications and heart disease. Of the total 37 deaths, 20 were teenagers and 17 were younger children.

Jillian van Turnhout, of the Children's Rights Alliance, said each of the deaths in care - including those from natural causes - must be automatically included in the independent review ordered by Children's Minister Barry Andrews.

"We need to know if anything could have been done to save them," she said.

"It could be they should have been taken in to care sooner or needed an operation.

"We need to learn lessons from each case."

Ms Turnhout warned the figure would rise if homeless youngsters in need of emergency accommodation were included in the list.

Health Minister Mary Harney and HSE management up to chief executive Professor Brendan Drumm had rejected reports that the true figure of all child deaths in state care was as high as 200 and suggested the number was closer to 23.

Fergus Finlay, Barnardos chief executive, said: "It's worrying that the figure is so much higher than 23 - the Minister for Health seemed to be confident about it.

"The final figure will be a good deal higher when the wider search is completed. A significant number of cases will have to be added to that. I don't think we know the full story yet."

There are 5,500 children in state care. The official figures cover January 1 2000 to April 30 2010. Details on the total number of deaths of children and young adults, who were in state care at some point or were known to social workers, will be released next Friday.

Jennifer Gargan, director of the Irish Association of Young People in Care, said: "It's substantially more than was originally stated so that's very worrying.

"Any death is a death too many - it's shocking that they didn't have the information previously.

"They're only the ones who we hear about because they died - there's many more young people seriously at risk living in the streets and in tragic and unhappy circumstances who are under the radar."

Sinn Féin's Caoimhghin O Caolain called for full disclosure from the HSE and added: "One death of a child in state care is a death too many.

"We need to be told the services provided or not provided in the case of each deceased child so that lessons can be learned and implemented."

Labour Senator Alex White said even though the figure was considerably smaller than some speculation, it was still deeply disturbing that so many children died while in the direct care of the state.

"The manner in which this affair has been handled by the government and the HSE has been quite chaotic, and damaging to public confidence in the system," Mr White said.

Children's Minister Barry Andrews criticised the 10 weeks it took for health chiefs to hand over the figures, which he requested in March.

He also said it was a matter of deep concern that there was a significant difference between the original figures of 23 presented and the higher number announced.

"The overall discrepancy between the figures reported raises serious questions about the management of information in the HSE in an extremely sensitive area and I will be requiring both an explanation and assurances from the Board and Senior Management in the HSE," he added.

Mr Andrews revealed he was also awaiting information on the death of any child known to the HSE child protection system and the death of young adults in the care of the HSE in the period immediately prior to their 18th birthday.

"I am informed by the HSE that this information will be available by Friday June 4," he added.